Festus Meets with Jewish Leaders
Study note
Three days after arriving in his new post, Festus travels to Jerusalem where the chief priests and Jewish leaders immediately bring charges against Paul and urge Festus to transfer him to Jerusalem. Their actual plan is to ambush and kill Paul on the way. Festus declines, saying Paul will be kept in Caesarea and that the Jewish leaders should come there to make their accusations.
1 Three days after Festus took his post, he went from Caesarea up to Jerusalem. Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem.
2 The chief priests and the most important Jewish leaders wasted no time. They brought their charges against Paul and pressed Festus to act. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
3 They asked him to bring Paul to Jerusalem as a favor. But they were secretly planning to attack and kill him on the way. And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
4 But Festus said that Paul was being kept in Caesarea. He added that he himself would be going back there soon. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
5 "Your top people should come back to Caesarea with me," he said. "If this man has done something wrong, they can bring charges there." Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
Paul Appeals to Caesar
Study note
After returning to Caesarea, Festus holds a hearing where the Jews bring many serious charges they cannot prove. Paul defends himself, insisting he has done nothing wrong against the Jewish law, the temple, or Caesar. When Festus, wanting to curry favor with the Jews, suggests transferring the trial to Jerusalem, Paul firmly refuses. Standing before Caesar's court as a Roman citizen, Paul declares that if guilty he does not refuse to die, but if innocent, no one can hand him over. He makes the formal legal appeal: 'I appeal to Caesar.' After consulting his advisors, Festus announces, 'To Caesar you will go.'
6 After spending eight or ten days in Jerusalem, Festus returned to Caesarea. The very next day, he opened court and had Paul brought before him. And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
7 When Paul came in, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem crowded around him. They threw one serious charge after another at him. But they could not prove any of them. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
8 Paul's defense was simple: "I have broken no Jewish law. I have done nothing against the temple. I have committed no crime against Caesar." While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.
9 But Festus wanted to do the Jewish leaders a favor. So he asked Paul, "Would you be willing to go to Jerusalem and let me hear your case there?" But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10 Paul replied, "I am standing right here in Caesar's court, which is exactly where I should be tried. I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish people, as you are perfectly well aware." Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11 "If I have committed a crime worthy of death, I am not trying to dodge the penalty. But if none of their accusations hold up, nobody has the right to hand me over to them. I am appealing to Caesar." For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.
12 Festus huddled with his advisors and then announced, "You want to appeal to Caesar? Then to Caesar you will go!" Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.
Paul's Case Presented to King Agrippa
Study note
King Agrippa and his sister Bernice arrive in Caesarea to welcome Festus. During their stay, Festus describes Paul's case, explaining that the charges were not about crimes but about Jewish religious disputes and a dead man named Jesus whom Paul claims is alive. Festus admits he was uncertain how to investigate such matters. Agrippa expresses interest in hearing Paul himself, and Festus arranges a hearing for the following day.
13 A few days later, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea. They came to welcome the new governor. And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus.
14 Since they were staying for several days, Festus brought up Paul's case with the king. "Felix left a prisoner behind," he said. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15 "When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and Jewish elders brought charges against him. They wanted me to condemn him." About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16 "I told them that Romans do not hand someone over for punishment first. The accused must face his accusers and have a chance to defend himself." To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
17 "So when they came here, I did not delay. I opened court the very next day and had the man brought in." Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 "When his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I expected." Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19 "Their dispute was about their own religion and about some dead man named Jesus whom Paul insists is alive." But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 "I did not know how to look into something like that. So I asked if Paul would be willing to go to Jerusalem for a trial." And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
21 "But Paul insisted on having his case referred to the Emperor. So I ordered him held in custody until I can send him to Caesar." But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cæsar.
22 Agrippa said, "I would like to hear this man speak for myself." "Tomorrow," Festus replied, "you will." Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
Paul Brought Before Agrippa
Study note
Agrippa and Bernice enter the audience hall with great ceremony, joined by military commanders and leading citizens. Festus presents Paul, noting that the Jewish community demands his death but that Festus has found nothing deserving death. Since Paul has appealed to the Emperor, Festus needs Agrippa's help to formulate the specific charges, as it would be unreasonable to send a prisoner to Rome without clearly stating the accusations.
23 The next day, Agrippa and Bernice arrived with a big, elaborate entrance. They walked into the hearing room with the military commanders and the most important men of the city. At Festus's command, Paul was brought in. And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
24 Festus said, "King Agrippa and everyone here: this is the man the whole Jewish people have been talking to me about. They came to me in Jerusalem and here too. They say he should not be allowed to live." And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 "Personally, I have found that he has done nothing deserving of death. But since he has appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome." But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 "The problem is, I do not have anything specific to write to the Emperor about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa. After this hearing, maybe I will have something definite to put in writing." Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
27 "After all, it makes no sense to send a prisoner to Rome without listing the charges against him." For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.